The Oklahoma State Department of Education’s Teacher Certification office is responsible for ensuring that all educators are properly credentialed through certification.

The State Board of Education has clearly outlined standards, referred to as Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS), which are organized by grade level:

Mathematics curriculum for Grades 1-5 must encourage a wide variety of mathematics ideas and promote in-depth levels of understanding by focusing on key concepts and processes.

Students in the middle grades (6-8) will expand their knowledge of numbers, estimation, statistics, measurement, computation, geometry, probability, functions, and patterns, and the fundamental concepts of algebra by focusing on meaningful mathematics in each of these areas.

Mathematics in high school establishes a framework for a curriculum that reflects the needs of all students. A broadened view of mathematics, which takes into consideration a society that is increasingly dominated by technology and quantitative methods, includes the traditional topics of algebra and geometry, but also includes such mathematical processes as problem solving, communication, reasoning, connections, and representation.

Step 1. Complete a State-Approved Teacher Education Program or Alternative Placement Program

You may achieve certification as a mathematics educator in Oklahoma through the completion of one of the following:

State-Approved Teacher Education Program

Alternative Placement Program for Teacher Certification

State-Approved Teacher Education Program

The traditional path to teacher certification in Oklahoma is through a state-approved teacher education program. The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation (OCTP) has, to date, approved one program for middle school math and 22 approved programs for secondary math.

Content Standards for Mathematics Programs

Professional standards for mathematics programs in Oklahoma, which reflect the content standards of the Accreditation of Teacher Preparation Institutions and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, include:

Calculus

Data analysis

Difference perspectives on algebra

Discrete mathematics

Geometries

Knowledge of number and operation

Measurement

Statistics and probability

Pedagogy Standards for Mathematics Programs

Mathematics teacher candidates should develop knowledge of and the ability to use and evaluate instructional strategies and classroom organizational models. They must also develop ways to represent mathematical concepts and procedures, instructional materials and resources, ways to promote discourse, and means of assessing student understanding.

Field-Based Experience Standards for Mathematics Programs

The development of mathematics teacher candidates should include opportunities to:

Examine the nature of mathematics

How mathematics should be taught

How student learn mathematics

Observe and analyze a number of approaches to mathematics teaching and learning

Focus on the tasks, environment, and assessment of mathematics teaching and learning

Work with a diverse range of students individually, in small groups, and in large, classroom settings

Full-time student teaching experiences must be supervised by a highly qualified teacher and a university or college supervisor with mathematics teaching experience at the appropriate grade level.

Alternative Placement Program for Teacher Certification

The Oklahoma Alternative Placement Program allows candidates with non-teaching degrees to teach in Oklahoma accredited schools. To qualify for this program, you must possess:

A bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university

A major in a field of study related to mathematics

A minimum GPA of 2.5

At least two years of work experience in a mathematics-related field OR post-baccalaureate coursework in mathematics

Before you can complete the steps to certification as a mathematics teacher in Oklahoma, you must be admitted to the program. To determine if you meet the eligibility requirements for the Oklahoma Alternative Placement Program, you must submit the following:

A $50 processing fee (made payable to the Oklahoma State Department of Education)

Official transcripts showing proof of required education

A current resume

After submitting the application packet, you will receive a letter notifying you if you are approved to seek certification, at which time you must take and pass the required competency examinations and complete the certification process.

The certification examinations are administered 12 times per year, both statewide and nationwide. You can register to take the examinations online. You can contact the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation at 405-525-2612 with questions regarding taking the Oklahoma competency examinations.

Step 3. Apply for Certification in Oklahoma

The application for certification in Oklahoma varies, depending on your path to certification:

Applicants of a Teacher-Approved Education Program

If you have completed a state-approved teacher education program and successfully passed all required competency examinations, you must complete the Oklahoma Teaching Certificate Application and pay the standard certification fee of $50.

Applicants of the Oklahoma Alternative Placement Program

If you are seeking certification through the Oklahoma Alternative Placement Program and you have successfully passed the required competency examinations, you must submit fingerprint cards for a criminal history record search and complete a Request for Teacher Competency Review Panel Assessment (and include the $100 application fee, made payable to the Oklahoma Department of Education). The Assessment must include a written examination/statement of why you want to become a teacher.

Upon receipt of the Assessment, and assuming you meet all requirements, you can expect to receive a scheduled date and time to appear before the Teacher Competency Review Panel. After appearing before the Teacher Competency Review Panel, you will receive a recommendation from the panel to the Oklahoma State Board of Education and receive an alternative credential.

After you have received your alternative standard certificate, you must complete the professional education component (semester/development hours) and pass the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam (see Step 2).

Step 4. Maintain Teacher Certification in Oklahoma

Renewing an Initial Alternative Certificate

Upon receiving your initial alternative certificate, you must complete the program’s professional education component and pass the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam (see Step 2) as to achieve a standard alternative certificate to teach mathematics in Oklahoma. Professional education requirements vary, depending on the highest degree earned:

Bachelor’s degree: 270 clock hours (18 semester hours)

Master’s degree: 180 clock hours (12 semester hours)

Doctorate degree: 180 clock hours (12 semester hours)

Standard alternative certification must be achieved within 3 years of your initial certification (the initial alternative certificate is not renewable).

Renewing an Initial Standard Certificate

To apply for your initial standard certificate, you must complete the Alternative Placement Renewal Application, pay the processing fee of $50 (made payable to the Oklahoma State Department of Education), and submit documentation of earned professional education component.